Starting of internal-combustion engines



June 15, 1954 J MOODY STARTING 0F INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG] 7 A I IIIIIAIIII iurvli FIG.4

INVENTOR 7 CLARK J. MOODY ATTORNEY.

June 15, 1954 c. J. MOODY 2,681,053

STARTING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 29, 1950 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.5

79 I INVENTOR.

CLARK J. MOODY ATTORNEY.

Patented June 1 5, 1954 UNITED STATE ATENT OFFICE STARTING OFINTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Application July 29, 1950, Serial No.176,691

16 Claims.

This invention relates to the starting of internal combustion engines incold weather. The problem of starting automobile and airplane enginesunder frigid conditions, especially at temperatures substantially belowzero, has long been a source of considerable trouble and annoyance.Fluid, containing ethyl ether as its major component, and suitable forquickly starting internal combustion engines in frigid weather, attemperatures as low as 40 F., has been available on the market foryears. One mode of application of the fluid to the engine has beenthrough a pump mounted on the dash, and connected to a tank containingthe starting or priming fluid, for impelling the fluid through asuitable connection to the intake manifold of the engine. Another methodinvolves the use of spray gun for injecting fluid from a supply tankthrough a hole in the manifold of a diesel engine or through the airfilter of a gasoline engine.

The foregoing methods of starting internal combustion engines in coldweather involve storing substantial quantities of the starting orpriming fluid in a supply tank or container, as, for example, a galloncan or a three-pint can, from which fluid is transferred to a smallercan connected to the pump or spray gun. The fluid remaining in theopened gallon or three-pint can creates a storage hazard; while the canconnected to the pump or spray gun also stores fluid for repeated use.

The invention disclosed in my application Serial No. 33,365, filed June16, 1948, now Patent No. 2,516,787, July 25, 1950, obviates the hazardsincident to the prior practice in the storage of the inflammable andexplosive starting or priming fluid. In accordance with the disclosurein that application, a charge of starting fluid, sufiicient for onestarting of the engine, is stored in a flexible container which isdiscarded after a single use; such container specifically comprising acapsule of suitable plastic material, which capsule is placed in aprimer cup connected to the engine and then ruptured for discharging itscontents into the interior of said engine.

The present invention provides a novel and improved primer cup forreceiving and puncturing the capsules. The invention provides a primercup, simple in construction but particularly efflcient in operation, forreceiving one or more capsules and puncturing them with marked facilityto discharge their contents into the engine.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No.75,950, filed February 11, 1949, and now abandoned.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a primer cup embodying thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, showing the embodiment of Fig. lmounted on a pump on a dashboard of a vehicle.

Fig. 3 is a view of the lower portion of the primer cup, showing aplurality of capsules therein.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation showing the primer cup mounted on thedashboard of 2. vehicle and connected to the intake-manifold of theengine.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of another primer cup embodyingcertain modifications of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view showing in elevation the puncturingelement of Fig. 5, together with a portion of the supporting plunger.

Fig. 7 is a plan view, looking upwardly from the bottom of the elementsshown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view of a further detail.

Referring to Figs. 1-4 of the drawings, a primer cup H comprises areceptacle portion I2 adapted to receive the capsule l3 of suitableplastic material containing starting fluid, such as the conventionalethyl ether fluid above referred to. As disclosed in my aforementionedapplication, Serial No. 33,365, conventional plasticized gelatin capsuleshells of the type employed for the marketing of bath oils have beenfound to be well adapted to serve as containers for the starting orpriming fluid.

Removably attached to the receptacle i2 is a barrel M in the end I5 ofwhich there is slidably mounted a plunger l6 carrying a puncturing tooli1. Conveniently the open end portion E8 of said barrel may be providedwith exterior threads, as shown, for engagement with interior threads ona boss [9 extending from the receptacle portion I2.

The puncturing tool l'l may be attached to the plunger It in anysuitable manner. For instance, the tool may be welded or otherwisesecured to a flange 29, attached in turn by welding or otherwise to anend of said plunger [5. The flange 29 may also serve as a guide for saidplunger during its movements in the barrel M. The end of said plungerwhich projects through the end E5 of the barrel may be threadedlyattached, as shown, to a sleeve 2| depending from a knob 2! which may beconveniently grasped for manipulation of the plunger.

The plunger it may be solid, if desired, but preferably is hollow tosave material and decrease its weight. Adjacent one end the plunger isprovided with an external groove 22 for engagement with a spring-pressedball 23 in the upper end portion of the barrel Ill. Said ball 23, incooperation with said groove 22, thus serves as a detent to hold theplunger in its innermost position. Another groove 24 in the lower endportion of the plunger cooperates with said ball 23 to maintain theplunger in its fully retracted position.

The plunger flange 28 may be provided with holes to facilitate operationof the plunger in the event that liquid from punctured capsules shouldaccumulate in the barrel l l.

The puncturing tool i? may also comprise barbs 29, for retracting thepunctured capsule shell when the plunger is drawn backwardly.

The lower portion of the receptacle 3? is inwardly curved as shown; andprojecting upwardly from the curved inner surface of said receptacleportion are a plurality of curved ribs [2. While two of said ribs areshown in Fig. 1, it will be understood that any desired number thereof(six, for example) may be provided, preferably equally spaced around theinterior of the receptacle, to support the lower curved end of thecapsule l3. Said ribs may conveniently be formed integrally with thereceptacle.

Below its inwardly curved portion, the receptacle I2 is provided with adownward extension 25 having therein a longitudinal channel orcounterbore 25. The latter, at its lower end, communicates through anopening 23' with a substantially horizontal passage 2? in a lateralextension 28 of said receptacle. Said passage 28 may be connected to theinterior of the engine in any suitable manner. The inner ends of theribs l2 tern inate substantially in line with the channel 26, as shownin Fig. 1; so that the space between said ends of said ribs is or"substantially the diameter of said channel. The spaces between adjacentrib surfaces communicate with said space between the ends of said ribs,and thus with said channel 26.

The receptacle portion !2 of the primer cup may be formed integral with,Or suitably secured to, a bracket 30 having laterally extending flanges3| whereby said bracket, and thus the entire primer cup assembly carriedthereby, may be readily bolted to the dash-board 32 of an automobile,airplane, or other vehicle.

In Fig. 2, the primer cup assembly is shown mounted on a pump 35 ofconventional design, operated by a plunger 35 through a knob 37 readilygrasped by the operator. The extension 28 of the primer cup receptaclemay, as shown, be mounted in a suitable clamp 33 secured to the pumpcasing. A pipe elbow 39 is threaded into the passage 2'! of saidreceptacle extension 28 and in turn communicates through pipe section63, elbow 4i, and pipe section :32 with the intericr of the pump. Thelatter is connected through conduit 33 and suitable piping with theintake manifold or other portion of the engine to be started. Thisarrangement is particularly useful in installations where the engine isat the same or a higher level than the dashboard, as in aeroplanes.

When the primer cup is connected to a point in the engine below saidcup, the pump may be omitted, if desired, and a connection made directlybetween said cup and engine. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig.4, wherein the pressed detent 2'3.

4 cup II is secured to the dashboard is through the bracket 30 and thepassage 21 in the cup extension 28 is connected directly through pipingwith the intake manifold of the engine 3.

To insert a capsule, the barrel [e is unscrewed from the receptacle [2.The capsule is then placed in the receptacle, with its lower end seatedon the upper surfaces of the curved ribs l2. Then the barrel l 4 isscrewed into said receptacle, the plunger I6 having previously beenretracted so that its groove 24 is engaged by the spring- The plungermay then be pushed downwardly by the operator until the tip of thepuncturing tool I! has passed through both ends of the capsule. Thehighly volatile primlng fluid, released from the punctured capsuleproceeds downwardly through the channel 25, opening 26', and passage 2?and thence (in the arrangement of Fig. 4 directly to the engine throughthe piping 45. In the Fig. 3 arrangement, the fluid passing into saidpassage 2? is pumped to the engine by the operatorthrough actuation ofthe plunger 36.

When the plunger i6 is pushed downwardly to its fullest extent, with thetip of its puncturing tool extended through the lower end of thecapsule, the upper groove 22 of said plunger I6 is engaged by the detent23. Also, in this position of the plunger, its barbs 29 have passedcomplete- 1y through the upper end .01 the capsule. The channel 25 is ofsufficient length to permit movement of the puncturing tool ii to suchextent as to pass its tip completely through both ends of the capsule.

After the engine has been started, the plunger I6 is fully retracted,bringing its groove 24 into engagement with detent 23. Through the barbs29, the punctured capsule shell is completely withdrawn into the barrelit. said barrel is then unscrewed from the receptacle l2, and theretracted capsule shell may be readily ejected through the open end ofsaid barrel by pushing the plunger I 6 downwardly.

When the engine to be started is of a size larger than one which can bestarted by a single capsule, a plurality of capsules may be inserted inthe barrel I l. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, one capsule has been placed onthe ribs or shoulders E2 in the receptacle !2, and a second capsule hasbeen placed in the barrel I l, with its lower end resting on the upperend of the first capsule. In Fig. 3 the plunger 16 is shown pusheddownwardly sufficiently to bring the puncturing tool l3 through bothends of the upper capsule and into the upper end of the lower capsule,but it will of course be understood that the plunger may be movedfurther downwardly to bring the barbs 29 into the lower capsule and topass the tip of the puncturing tool through the lower end of said bottomcapsule. The contents of both punctured capsules pass down into passage2'1 and thence to the engine.

If desired, the hollow interior of the plunger 16 may be open to theexterior through a hole 4?.

Turning now to the modified primer cup shown in Fig. 5, the receptacleportion 5i for receiving the capsule l3 has attached thereto a barrel52. The end 53 of said barrel has slidably mounted therein a tubularplunger 54 carrying a puncturing tool 55. Conveniently, the open endportion 56 of said barrel may be formed with exterior threads, as shown,for engagement with interior threads on a boss 57 extending from thereceptacle portion 51.

The puncturingtool .55 may be of Sheet steel,

bent along the major portion of its length into U-shaped cross-sectionto provide a longitudinal channel 58, and having the side walls at itslower end extended and pressed together into pointed formation as shownat 59. The upper end of said puncturing tool fits into the lower end ofthe tubular plunger 54 and may be secured there to in any suitablemanner, as by welding or brazing. Also secured to the lower end of saidlunger and to said puncturing tool, as by brazing or welding, is a,flange 60, which serves as a guide for the plunger during the movementsof the latter in the barrel 52. Said flange 63 may be provided withholes 60 to facilitate operation of the plunger and the attachedpuncturing tool in the event that liquid from punctured capsules shouldaccumulate in the barrel 52.

The end of the plunger 54 which projects through the end 53 of thebarrel may be threadedly attached, as shown, to a sleeve 6| dependingfrom a knob 62 which may be conveniently grasped for manipulation of theplunger. Said knob 62 is further provided with a depending skirt 63which, when the knob and plunger are in their normal lowermost position,overlaps the upper end of the barrel 52 and insures against seepage ofmoisture into the screw threads connecting said plunger and knob, asmight otherwise occur in installations where the primer cup is exposedto rain or snow.

Adjacent one end, the plunger 54 is provided with an external groove 64for engagement with a spring-pressed ball 65 in the upper end portion ofthe barrel 52. Said ball 55, in cooperation with said groove 64, thusserves as a detent to hold the plunger in its innermost position.Another groove 65 in the lowermost portion of the plunger cooperateswith said ball 65 to maintain the plunger in its fully retractedposition.

The puncturing tool 55 may also comprise barbs 57, for retracting thepunctured capsule shell when the plunger is drawn upwardly.

Near its lower end, the barrel 52 is provided with an outwardly flaring,downwardly extending, skirt 68; the lower end of which skirt is spacedfrom the adjacent wall of the barrel to provide an open-ended annularchannel 69. Said channel receives an upwardly extending flange orextension Ill from the receptacle boss 51 when the barrel 52 is threadedinto said boss, as shown in Fig. 5. The resultant over-lapping of saidskirt 58 and flange l0 protects the screw threads within said boss fromseepage of water into said threads when the primer cup is exposed to theelements. A gasket ll of rubber or other suitable resilient material,may be interposed between the upper end of the flange l0 and theadjacent end of the channel 69.

Between its upper and lower ends the receptacle 5| is provided with aninwardly curved seat portion 12 having a plurality of upwardlyprojecting curved ribs 12, similar to the ribs l2 of Fig. 1, to supportthe lower end of the capsule. Said ribs 12' may conveniently be formedintegrally with the receptacle and are preferably equally spaced aroundits interior. A channel '13 extends downwardly through said ribs 12 andseat 12, and opens into a chamber M in the lower end of the receptacle5|. Said lower end is normally closed by a plug 15 having screw threadedengagement with said end, and also having an exterior flange or knob 15whereby the plug may be readily removed or reinserted. A gasket '56 maybe interposed between said flange l5 and the lower end of saidreceptacle, as shown.

The screw plug I5 carries on its upper surface a cylindrical shell 11having a bottom 18 and longitudinal slots 19 through its cylindricalwall. A screw 80, threaded through the bottom plate is of said shell,attaches said shell removably to the plug 15. Within said shell 11 thereis positioned a cylindrical wire screen 8|, the lower end of whichscreen rests on the bottom plate 78 of said shell. A sheet of soft metalsuch as tin, may be folded over the upper ends of said shell and screenand crimped thereto to bind said ends firmly together, as shown at 8|.After the shell and screen are attached together and to the plug 15, thelatter is screwed into the lower end of the receptacle 5 bringing theshell and screen fully into the receptacle chamber 14, with the upperends of said shell and screen fitting into an annular curved recess 82in said receptacle above the chamber 14.

A boss 83, extending laterally from the lower end portion of thereceptacle 5|, is bored internally to provide an outlet channel 84communicating with the aforementioned chamber id. Said bore, as shown,is threaded for attachment to a pipe or conduit extending to the intakemanifold or other portion of the engine to be started.

When the slotted shell 11 and the screen 81 are inserted into thechamber 14, and the plug 75 is screwed into the lower end of thereceptacle, the contents of a punctured capsule seated on the ribs 12'will flow through said shell and screen and thence through the outlet 84to the engine. At the same time said shell and screen prevent anyfragments of the capsule from passing into said outlet. This is ofparticular advantage in very cold weather, when the capsules may becomesomewhat brittle, and hardened fragments thereof pass downwardly throughthe channel 13. Any such fragments are caught by the screen BI, and mayreadily be removed simply by removing the plug l5.

It will also be apparent that the foregoing construction enables readyremoval of the shell and screen as a unit from the plug 15, and theirexpeditious replacement, whenever either becomes worn out.

It will be noted that when said plug I5 is screwed fully into thereceptacle 5|, the bottom plate 18 of the shell 11 is above the outlet84, so that no fluid can accumulate in the shell ll or screen 8| belowsaid outlet.

The receptacle portion 5| of the primer cup 50 may be formed integrallywith, or suitably secured to, a bracket 85 having laterally extendingflanges 86 whereby said bracket, and thus the entire primer cup assemblycarried thereby, may readily be bolted to the dashboard of an automobileor other vehicle.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize thatvarious modifications are possible within the scope of the inventionclaimed.

I claim:

1. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle adapted to receive a priming-fluid capsule, a barrel ex-=tending from said receptacle, a tool for puncturing said capsule, and aplunger slidably mounted 7 in said barrel and carrying said tool, saidplunger extending through an end of said barrel for manipulation tobring said tool into capsulepuncturing position and to withdraw saidtool therefrom, and spring-actuated detent means in said barrelcooperating with said plunger to retain the latter and said tool indiiferent positions.

2. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle adapted to receive a priming-fluid capsule, a barrelextending from said receptacle, a plunger slidably mounted in saidbarrel, a tool movable with said plunger for puncturing said capsule,tool also having barb means movable into said capsule for withdrawingthe same upon retraction of said plunger, an end of said plungerextending through said barrel for manipulation by an operator.

3. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle adapted to receive a priming-fluid capsule, a barrelextending from said receptacle, a plunger slidably mounted in saidbarrel, a tool movable with said plunger for puncturing said capsule,said tool also having barb means movable into said capsule forwithdrawing the same upon retraction of said plunger, andspring-actuated detent means in said barrel cooperating with saidplunger to retain the latter and said tool in different positions.

4. A. primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a priming-fluidcapsule, spaced ribs in said chamber curved to conform with a curved endof said capsule and forming a seat therefor, said chamber having adischarge opening below said ribs adapted to be connected to an internalcombustion engine for discharging priming fluid thereinto, and a toolmovable with respect to said receptacle for puncturing said capsule.

5. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle adapted to receive a priming fluid capsule, a barrelremovably attached to said receptacle, a plunger slidably mounted insaid barrel, and a tool movable with said plunger for puncturing saidcapsule, said plunger extending through said barrel for manipulation toand from capsule-puncturing position, said barrel being of internalvolume sufiicient to accommodate another capsule adjacent the capsule insaid receptacle when said plunger is retracted from puncturing position.

6. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a primingfluidcapsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, saidreceptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluidfrom said capsule and also having an outlet in communication with saidsecond chamber, and a screen in said second chamber for preventingcapsule fragments from entering said outlet.

'7. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a priming-fluidcapsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, saidreceptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluidfrom said cap sule and also having an outlet in communication with saidsecond chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsulefragments from entering said outlet, and means comprising a plugengageable with said receptacle for inserting and removing said screen.

8. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle having. an internal chamber for receiving a priming-fluidcapsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, saidreceptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluidfrom said capsule and also having an outlet in communication with saidsecond chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsulefragments from entering said outlet, a plug rcmovably engaging saidreceptacle, and means for securing said screen to said plug.

9. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a primingfluidcapsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, saidreceptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluidfrom said capsule and also having an outlet in communication with saidsecond chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsulefragments from entering said outlet, a plug removably engaging saidreceptacle, and means for removably securing said screen to said plug.

18. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a primingfluidcapsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, saidreceptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluidfrom said capsule and also having an outlet in corninunication with saidsecond chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsulefragments from entering said outlet, a slotted shell surrounding saidscreen, and means removably engaging said receptacle and supporting saidscreen and said shell.

11. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a primingfluidcapsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, saidreceptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluidfrom said capsule and also having an outlet in communication with saidsecond chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsulefragments from entering said outlet, a shell having a bottom portionengaged by the lower end of said screen and a slotted wall portionsurrounding said screen, and means removably engaging said receptacleand supporting said screen and said shell.

12. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a primingfiuidcapsule, a seat in said chamber for an end or" said capsule, saidreceptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluidfrom said capsule and also having an outlet in communication with saidsecond chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsulefragments from entering said outlet, a shell having a bottom portionengaged by the lower end of said screen and a slotted wall portionsurrounding said screen, means securing the upper end of said screen tosaid shell, and means removably engaging said receptacle and supportingsaid shell and said screen.

13. A primer cup for internal combustion engines said cup comprising areceptacle having an internal chamber for receiving a priming-fluidcapsule, a seat in said chamber for an end of said capsule, saidreceptacle having a second chamber below said seat for receiving fluidfrom said capsule and also having an outlet in communication with saidsecond chamber, a screen in said second chamber for preventing capsulefragments from entering said outlet, a shell having a bottom portionengaged by the lower end of said screen and a slotted wall portionsurrounding said screen, a plug removably engaging said receptacle, andmeans cooperating with the bottom of said shell for attaching the latterto said plug.

14. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle adapted to receive a priming fluid capsule, a barrel havingthreaded engagement with said receptacle, a tool for puncturing saidcapsule, a plunger slidably mounted in said barrel and carrying saidtool, and means comprising overlapping annular members on saidreceptacle and barrel, respectively, for protecting the interengagedthreads on said receptacle and barrel against entry of moisturethereinto.

15. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle adapted to receive a priming fluid capsule, a barrel havingthreaded engagement with said receptacle, a tool for puncturingsaidcapsule, a plunger slidably mounted in said barrel and carrying saidtool, and means for protecting the interengaged threads on saidreceptacle and barrel against entry of moisture thereinto, said meanscomprising an annular flange on one of said members extending into anannular opening in the other.

16. A primer cup for internal combustion engines, said cup comprising areceptacle adapted to receive a priming fluid capsule, a barrel eX-tending from said receptacle, a tool for puncturing said capsule, aplunger slidably mounted in said barrel and carrying said tool, saidplunger extending through an end of said barrel, a knob having screwthreaded engagement with said plunger beyond said barrel, and a skirt onsaid knob overlapping the adjacent end of the barrel, when said plungeris in normal position, for protecting the interengaged screw threads ofsaid plunger and knob from entry of moisture thereinto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,004,359 Brown Sept. 26, 1911 1,475,903 Urtasun Nov. 27, 19231,741,339 Sager Dec. 31, 1929 2,364,356 Greathouse Dec. 5, 19442,516,787 Moody July 25, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,252Great Britain of 1913

